Armenian Time. A project for railway and road connectivity along the Black Sea coast between Russia, Georgia, and Armenia has been presented in Moscow, tentatively named "Putin's Route."

 

This was reported by the publication "Vector Caucasus" (formerly the "Echo of the Caucasus" project of the "Liberty" radio station).

 

The initiative was announced by Kremlin-affiliated research organizations on September 28 at the international conference "Prospects for the Development of Transport and Logistics Networks in the South Caucasus." The program was developed by Vladislav Gasumyanov, director of the National Research Institute for the Development of Communications of Russia (NIIRC).

 

It is noted that several Armenian experts are actively lobbying for the project, presenting it as a tool for the "unblocking" of the region and calling for the search for "fresh, non-political solutions," attempting to integrate the Russian project into the official "Crossroads of the World" concept of the Armenian government. However, independent Caucasian analysts describe the project as an element of Moscow's hybrid political pressure.

 

The conference is a joint initiative of the Research Institute of Railway Transport, the Center for Russian Studies at Yerevan State University, and the Center for the Study of Russian-Armenian Relations at the Institute of Oriental Studies.

 

"The political and geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus has changed significantly today, and as a result, the issue of reopening railway services in the region is back on the agenda, but under fundamentally new conditions," said Aram Safaryan, director of the Center, during his speech at the Moscow forum.

 

He recalled that discussions about reopening the Moscow-Tbilisi railway line had begun back in 2016, but "the process has stalled."

 

"Putin's Route" should not be viewed as a competing idea with other transport initiatives, but rather as an opportunity to integrate into the overall transport and logistics system of the South Caucasus," Safaryan noted.

 

Tatul Manaseryan, head of the "Alternative" research center, also mentioned in his report that the reopening of the railway could contribute to the development of the entire region. He noted that the development of Russian-Georgian relations in recent years indicates a certain revision of previous approaches in Tbilisi. In particular, Georgian policy is increasingly being "considered through the prism of the country's national interests, rather than solely within the framework of Western orientation."

 

"I believe that the prudence of the Georgian political elite will allow them to analyze the situation and, regardless of the political scenario, view the reopening of this railway as a contributing factor rather than an obstacle," Manaseryan said.

 

At the same time, independent Armenian experts note the impossibility of implementing the project under Russian conditions, according to "Vector Caucasus."

 

Hrant Mikayelyan, director of the "Armenian Research Center," expressed the opinion that transport routes in the South Caucasus should be viewed not only from an economic perspective but also from a geopolitical one. He agrees that the balance of power in the region is changing but notes that it is not shifting towards Russia. According to the expert, Turkey is strengthening its influence in the South Caucasus, maintaining significant influence in Azerbaijan, and developing strategic ties with Georgia, while Russia's presence in the region, on the contrary, is diminishing.

 

"Vector Caucasus" reminded that Armenia's railway infrastructure was transferred to the subsidiary of "Russian Railways," "South Caucasian Railway" (SCR), in February 2008 for a 30-year concession, with the possibility of extending it for another 10 years. Until recently, this was perceived as a guarantee that major transit projects in Armenia would not be implemented without Russia's participation. The situation changed after the signing of the Trump Route (TRIPP) agreement in August 2025.

 

Since then, Moscow has begun to seek its own "routes" to avoid full participation in the process of unblocking communications in the South Caucasus, the publication writes.

 

There has been no official or expert response from Tbilisi regarding "Putin's Route" yet.

 

"Vector Caucasus" notes that the Moscow conference itself, and the lobbying statements made there by Russian and Armenian experts, have so far been completely ignored by the Georgian side.

 

At the same time, the fundamental position of the Georgian authorities regarding the idea of restoring transit transport along the Inguri River's de facto border remains unchanged and uncompromising. Tbilisi has stated that it will not conduct any negotiations or communications with Russia regarding the railway section in Abkhazia until Moscow withdraws its military bases from the occupied territories.

 

Georgian security analysts emphasize that the opening of traffic in violation of the "Law on Occupied Territories," without restoring full Georgian customs and border control over the Psou River, is legally impossible.

 

Tbilisi considers any attempt to reopen the trains on Kremlin's terms as a direct threat to its sovereignty, which could lead to a serious internal political crisis.

 

"Therefore, the 'Putin's Route' project remains, to this day, a purely declarative propaganda maneuver by Moscow, disconnected from the international legal reality of the region," concluded "Vector Caucasus."